Australia’s future is getting decidedly spooky. China is engaging in influence and interference attacks on our way of life. Now we’re investing billions of dollars into returning the favour. Tucked away in a quiet corner of the federal budget was an unexpectedly large number: $1.3 billion. Alongside were ominous names: ASIO and Signals Directorate. And the reason was vague: Technological capabilities.
Little else was said. It is, after all, the very heart of Australia’s international espionage operations.
But Flinders University lecturer in international relations, Dr Michael Sullivan, told news.com.au the clues are in Canberra’s strategic, diplomatic and domestic posturing.
“Improved technical capabilities is the wording in the budget papers,” he says.
“That relates clearly to expanded and upgraded ‘grey zone’ activities. And that means both offensive and defensive.”..MORE
